This is the Title of an Uncreative Violinist.:)

I'm noticing a pattern:  when I start to spend a little too much time on one thing and neglect everything else that's a part of my life, I get cranky, whiny, stressed, paranoid and overly indulgent in negative thoughts. Basically, I need to do more of pretty much everything else and keep teaching in the background.  When I let my teaching job come to the forefront of everything, I let little stupid things get to me.  Maybe a look a parent or student gave me, their tone of voice, or perhaps even something they said that I read into a little too much.  I REALLY appreciate the comments you guys left me and for the varying thoughts after my last post; the conclusion I've come to is that, yes, I'm still evolving, still growing as a person, a musician and a teacher and I need to quickly remove any notion that there is an end in sight for it all.  There will always be room for modification, for improvement and I have to understand that that is not the same as saying that I &

This summer will have been my fifth year living and working in Columbus, and as I experience a turnover nearly every single year, I've been pondering more and more in recent weeks that I need to change some things.  I don't think any violin teacher or artist out there ever thinks they are doing the wrong thing or teaching their students incorrectly--don't we all tend to like the way we think and/or do things?!  But, even though I come to expect turnovers in students as a regular and normal thing, this year has just been so...weird.  I thought that I had matured enough and was experienced enough to get over those humps and not take it so personally when students left or quit as I did when I first started teaching, but I really have to admit--I've been shaken by particular students leaving, and with specific experiences w/ some parents.  Feelings of doubt--even incompetence--have washed over me, and that quickly turns into anger and defensive reactions when I can't pu

This or That [ this is has been making the rounds  on various blogs, so I'm not sure of the origin. But it looked fun, so here goes!]: 1. Coke or Pepsi? –  Coke 2. Caramel Apple or Cotton Candy? –  I know apples are healthier...but the caramel sticks to my teeth, so it's cotton candy! 4. Salt or Pepper? –  pepper! 5. Pudding or Yogurt? –  Greek yogurt, especially from TJ's 6. American or Provolone Cheese?-  Provolone 7. Cookies or Brownies? –  Most any type of cookie!  8. Pretzels or Chips? –  Hmm, I suppose chips, although I don't really purchase or snack on either too often. 9. Cake or Pie? –  This is a hard one...it depends on what I feel like. I really can't choose b/t the two. I like both!! 10. Oatmeal or Cereal? –  I know oatmeal is healthier, so I've been eating more of that, but occasionally, I will eat Kashi cereal. 11. Mexican or Japanese? –  Ugh, I have to choose b/t two of my least favorite foods?  I guess Japanese since I like r

*Update:  I went to the race's website to check my official race time, and I need to shave 7 seconds off. Woohoo!  Official 5K time: 27:31 * Just got done with the Beat Beethoven 5K in uptown Westerville and I feel okay with my finish time--27:38, 8:54 min./mile average.  After finding out the 1st and 2nd place females' finish times, I wished I had pushed harder.  I think 2nd place finished in 24 minutes.  Granted, this was not a big race, so not that many people, and not that much competition.  Still, though, when you hear that, it makes you wonder what you're capable of!  Also, I've been rowing more than I have running, so it felt a little weird out there; I started out hard and passed a bunch of people, but then after about a mile, I got winded, started feeling stomach cramps, and slowed down to almost a 10 min. mile.  I felt like keeping that pace until the end, but I just knew I was going to kick myself later for not pushing a little harder out of my comfort zon

Ok.  Thanks so much for tolerating my silly vent--some of you suggested I "unfriend" the parent from FB: I thought about it, but ultimately decided that what goes around comes around.  The way I see it, I did nothing wrong and really shouldn't be in a tiff about it.  Yeah, I still find it annoying how she behaved one way w/ me but obviously acts another way with the new teacher--but it's not in my interest to bother even reading into it.  Besides that, I still teach a student whose family is best friends with this former parent/son--it just wouldn't look good on my end.  My solution is to stay away from FB. I hardly ever update my status like I used to, and I think long and hard before I consider posting something.  Politics are a no-no and random thoughts are refrained when I put myself in others' shoes and imagine how silly they'd seem if I were a stranger reading those ridiculous rants. I don't advertise my blog on FB so I'm not really worried

Remember that scene from Father of the Bride when Steve Martin has just met his daughter's fiancee and tries to advise his daughter to wear a jacket as she's leaving because "it's chilly out", and she proceeds to blow him off because he's just her silly old dad; her fiancee then chimes in "He's right, it IS chilly out" and she suddenly listens to him and says "Oh really? Oh thanks, let me grab my jacket". Yeah, that's how I've felt the past several months as I've watched students come and go; sometimes they quit cold turkey because they've gotten sick of practicing (or of me telling them to practice--I KNOW there was nearly no practicing going on) and others have discreetly found other teachers while still continuing study with me, and then have given me the boot.  But right before they decided to leave, I'd get clues about their intentions.  Like when their mom would ask me why other people would comment on her s

We got back really late Friday evening--more like Saturday morning!--from the Reds game, but wow, it was worth it!  The Reds won! I have to admit, being a classical musician, I don't really get into sports--fitness, yes--but team sports are usually something I tend to roll my eyes at.  Baseball, however, is something I can definitely get into and "makes sense" to me.  I attended my first (and last) football game here in Columbus last year, and just found myself squirming the whole time, wishing I could literally be doing anything else.  Perhaps it's because I went to school in Cincinnati, or maybe it's the fact that the Reds are the oldest ball team in the US, or maybe even that they've got the most amazing pitcher--Aroldis Chapman A.KA. "The Cuban Missile"--or it's just all of the above, but whatever it is, I am REALLY digging this team right now.  Friday's game was just an enjoyable evening all around, and I can't wait to attend more g

Yesterday, after the curling iron: Today, a new haircut (not sure how I feel about it yet): Let's throw a little yorkie-poo into the mix: *Confession:  I felt extremely uncomfortable taking pictures of myself, hence the stupid faces.  Thank you for your understanding:) Whadya think about pseudo bangs? I think I'm digging them...but let's see how I feel tomorrow morning and am unable to style it exactly the way the hairstylist did today, and it ends up looking like poop.  

My precious yorkie, Zoe, woke me up at 5am this morning, panting for water; after letting the dogs get a drink and go out, I slipped back into bed expecting to fall asleep because I am NOT a morning person. Yeeah..that didn't happen. I lay there blinking my eyes, wide awake, thinking, "Great, now what?"  So...I got my rowing workout done and out of the way for today!  How can I possibly be mad at my dogs for waking me up early when it just makes me more productive?  Ryan was grateful, too, as I had breakfast ready for him as he walked out the door to work this morning.  I actually like being up early in the morning...but I struggle w/ the part of actually waking up at the butt crack of dawn.  If our bodies didn't need slumber and it was only optional to sleep, I would totally forgo sleeping, lol. I finally made an appointment to get my nasty split ends trimmed--will post pic later.  After that, Ryan will get home early so we can make the trip south for the Reds g